The tax bill won’t go to the Senate until May or June, and right now, Bush lacks the votes to pass it in that chamber, which is divided 50-50.

The measure passed yesterday would eventually cut all income-tax rates, lowering the top rate from 39.6 to 33 percent and the bottom from 15 percent to 10.

It accounts for $958 billion of Bush’s $1.6 trillion plan – upcoming are measures to double the per-child credit to $1,000, ease the marriage penalty and eliminate the “death” or estate tax.

To counter Democratic arguments that the measure is tilted to the rich, the Bush administration issued a table yesterday showing those earning $200,000 or more will pay a greater percentage of taxes after the cut.

Some of the other provisions – like the marriage penalty and death tax – have won substantial Democratic support in the past and are virtually certain to pass with a lot more Democratic votes.

A Republican leadership aide said the strategy was to deliberately start with the toughest measure to pass.

“That way we could find out where all the Democrats are and let them hear from their constituents and build momentum with bigger votes later on,” the aide said.

Bush has been barnstorming states that voted solidly for him – like North Dakota and South Dakota – where there are Democratic senators, who haven’t endorsed his plan, up for election in 2002.

The 10 House Democrats who backed Bush’s plan mostly were from states he won – Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas – plus California’s Gary Condit and Collin Peterson of Minnesota, whose Gov. Jesse Ventura backs the Bush tax cut.

All New Yorkers voted along party lines yesterday except Gary Ackerman (D-Queens), who didn’t vote.

In the Senate, only one Democrat is backing Bush’s tax cut and several swing Republicans are opposed or wavering.

But it is now a foregone conclusion that a significant tax cut is certain to pass Congress this year.

A national poll by the Los Angeles Times yesterday suggested Bush is in a good position to try to rally support as he has a 62 percent favorable rating and only 18 percent negative.